Charlotte's last stand
04 June 2012 | Redhook Bay, St Thomas, USVI
A wee dram of scotch on Shalama with Sebastian and Liz last night and bagels and cream cheese on Ooroo the next morning was our farewell to Vieques.
When I think about my top ten experiences and locations so far, it's the articulate funny Pom, the "its 10am so lets have a beer, Yank with there beautiful 1941 wooden boat that's is a stand out. Or is it the island itself? With its friendly people, wild horses, beautiful beaches and that word "opportunity" written all over it. I have reasons to return maybe with Jules. I have friends for life living there dream here and I want to come and see there progress in developing a kick arse charter business using classical wooded boats.
We set sail....with all our sails for the first time in weeks. The destination, Isla De Culebra. The GPS was set and then the phone rang. "Dad it's Oli, I'm in St Thomas and only have $20 bucks". That's why plans are designed to be broken.
The wind is with us, albeit light and so we are now heading straight to St Thomas. It's a day sail, the sun is shinning, Mar Caribe is being polite, everything on Ooroo works. Charlotte is sunbathing, Mark reading and soon I'll have my son back on board. Perfect.
Every guide book tells you that St Thomas and the Capital, Charlotte Amalie is all glitzy jewelry shops and love boats during the day and gangsters and closed shops at night. It's true. Having stayed here before and been told to go home before dusk by a barman that would otherwise have been taking my money is testament to that. The front page of the local paper boasted that The USVIs has the worlds 7th highest murder rate.
It's funny (in a not haha sort of way) that we receive more warnings about theft, violent crime and dingy's been stolen right off your davits in US territories than in the third world ports.
So for Charlottes second last night on Ooroo, we are finding a quiet harbour, beach bar and will relax. We picked up Oli without much hassle last night and then refueled this morning. With 10 knots of wind and time we are tacking down the coast in search of Charlottes last stand. This is postcard Caribbean. We pulled in at Capella Island after only an hour for a swim and then an hour and a half latter, Redhook Bay for the night. And no it's not what we expected. Charlottes last stand has just been described as the "St Thomas Drinking Capital". I wonder what the murder rate is here?
To be cont....